10 highlights of Krakow
Sunday 3 December 2017, 13:31 by Michelle Peeters | 9,793 views | 4 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
Krakow is a cultural and historic city in Poland. It is a lively city, partly because of the large number of students who live there. You can still find many historic treasures here because the city was spared during the Second World War.
Krakow has been designated by UNESCO as one of the most important historic cities in the world. This article covers 10 photographic highlights in this beautiful city and nearby Auschwitz.
1. Rynek Glowny
This is one of the largest squares in the world. It is atmospheric and inviting both during the day and in the evening. The square has several side streets with shops, restaurants and bars.
The large square is characterised by its many outdoor cafés, the horse-drawn carriages waiting in a line to take tourists around, art for sale and flower stalls.
2. St Mary's Basilica
On Rynek Glowny square, you will find the impressive St Mary's Basilica with its great artistic treasures. The church is also known for its trumpeter. Unfortunately, you were not allowed to take photographs with a tripod here and the contrasts were extremely high, hence the rather grainy photo.
Every hour, the Hejnal, a short tune, is played. This dates back to the time when the Mongol army wanted to capture Krakow. A watchman wanted to raise the alarm in this way, but was hit in the throat by an arrow, bringing the melody to an abrupt end.
3. Franciscan Church
The Franciscan Church, together with the adjoining monastery, is located in the historic centre of Krakow. The church is one of the city's oldest Gothic churches and has held the title of minor basilica since 1920.
Every year, crowds of tourists visit the church because of the famous stained-glass windows by Stanisław Wyspiański. The martyr Maximilian Kolbe was a monk here in 1919 and celebrated his first Holy Mass there when the Polish nation regained its sovereignty.
4. The Cloth Hall
You cannot miss the Cloth Hall on this central square either. This used to be Krakow's central trading place. Today, you will find stalls selling various local products and souvenirs.
5. Kazimierz
Kazimierz is the Jewish district of Krakow. As you walk towards the district, you will soon notice that you have arrived. You can see this from the buildings, the synagogue and the Jewish people who live there.
In this district, there is a small square, Szeroka, with several restaurants where live Klezmer music is played in the evenings. Definitely worth a visit!
6. Ghetto Heroes Square
Plac Bohaterow Getta, or 'square of the heroes of the ghetto', used to lie in the middle of the ghetto. The monument of empty chairs, spread across the square, symbolises the emptiness left behind after the final clearance in March 1943.
At the corner of the square is the Pod Orlem pharmacy, which provided Jewish people with free medicines during the war.
7. Schindler's factory
Schindler's factory became world-famous through the Oscar-winning film 'Schindler's List' by Steven Spielberg. The story takes place just outside Krakow city centre, in an enamel factory run by the German Oskar Schindler.
As the war progresses and the Nazis become increasingly aggressive in deporting Jewish people from the Krakow ghetto, Schindler puts a plan into action to save his Jewish employees from the camp. In the end, he saves the lives of 1,100 people.
The film was largely shot in Kazimierz, but the real story took place just across the river, in the Podgórze district. Schindler's Factory still stands just outside this former ghetto in Krakow. Since 2003, the factory has been a museum that you can visit.
8. Kladka Bernatka Bridge
The bridge over the Vistula which finally opened up the relatively unknown Podgorze district to tourists. This very stylish modern bridge is covered with beautiful sculptures of acrobats.
9. Wawel Castle
If you walk out of the main square through one of the side streets, you will come across Wawel Castle, situated on Wawel Hill. The Wawel Cathedral stands in its courtyard, with a gold-inlaid roof that can be seen from throughout the city.
You feel as if you are in a fairytale as you walk onto the grounds. The castle is situated along the river, where you can enjoy a lovely walk.
10. Auschwitz
After about an hour and a half by car, you arrive in Auschwitz. Auschwitz 1 was built as a concentration camp and Auschwitz-Birkenau 2 was built as an extermination camp.
As you walk through the gate bearing the words 'Arbeit macht Frei', the tour through a history marked by terror and horror during the Second World War begins. It is impossible to describe in words the impression Auschwitz made on me. You have to experience it.
Have a guide show you around, and notice how quiet all the tourists become when they walk through the gate, as well as the emotions on every face. It is deeply moving.
About the author
Michelle Peeters is fotografe en oprichter van DeuxBleus Fotografie. Michelle herkent het bijzondere in het gewone en het gewone in het bijzondere. Ze heeft zich nooit willen specialiseren en is daardoor van alle markten thuis.
You might also like
-
33 remarkable historical photosby Michelle Peeters
-
Photograph historic times (right now)by Elvira Smit
-
8 Christmas photography tips from Nige Levantermanby Michelle Peeters
-
Photographing in a trendy city!by Laura van der Burgt
-
Show Blown Highlights or Blocked-up Shadowsby Michelle Peeters
-
Olympus's Live Bulb in practiceby Nando Harmsen
4 comments
-
Jack Herderschee wrote on Tuesday 5 December 2017 at 14:57 | replyBeautiful (atmosphere) photos of a wonderful city!!!
Translated from Dutch. -
Jan Greuter wrote on Tuesday 5 December 2017 at 16:01 | replyWe also visited Krakow, but I didn't take such beautiful photos! amazing
Translated from Dutch. -
Michelle Peeters wrote on Tuesday 5 December 2017 at 16:04
| reply
@Jan: thank you! It was rather drizzly, grey weather, so I still had to take most of the photos in the evening (with the lights on). With a little Leica system camera and tripod (easy to take along when you travel with Ryanair..). I’m not disappointed with the result at all either, the colours are very beautiful!
Translated from Dutch. -
Rob de Joode wrote on Tuesday 5 December 2017 at 22:33 | replyWent last year, a magnificent city, and Auschwitz impressive.
Translated from Dutch.
Have your say
Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.
Become a better photographer every week
A practical photography tip in your inbox every week.
38,835 photography enthusiasts already receive the tips! More about the weekly mail. Or keep up to date via 
Facebook.
Elja Trum
Photofacts; everything to do with photography!
Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about PhotofactsPhotofacts is made possible in part by
